Qatar bans contractors from traveling in rain-damage probe

DOHA — Qatar has banned contractors from leaving the country as it carries out a probe into how heavy rains damaged buildings and roadways. An article late Friday on the Qatar News Agency announced the travel ban. It said “owners of companies, contractors and consulting engineers” would be banned from traveling abroad until the end of the probe. A year’s worth of rain on Wednesday deluged Doha’s Hamad International Airport, the home of Qatar Airways, pouring through at least one part of the roof. The airport cost at least $15 billion to build. Rainwater also flooded streets and shut down some stores in Doha. The investigation already is examining the work of five unnamed companies and others could be targeted as well in the probe launched by Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, who also serves as interior minister, the Qatar News Agency said. “Parties responsible for dereliction or negligence, whether governmental or private, will be held accountable,” the agency said, citing a statement late Wednesday from Qatar’s Government Communication Office. Reached for comment, officials at Doha’s Hamad International Airport issued a statement simply saying: “There was no impact to operations yesterday.” It referred other questions to the government. The day before, at least 79.5 millimeters (3.13 inches) of rain fell at the airport, according to the Qatar Meteorology Department. Typically, the hot, desert country sees around 50 millimeters (1.97 inches) of rain in a year. The sudden rainfall saw water pour out of the airport’s ceiling in several places, captured in online videos. Qatar opened Hamad International Airport in April 2014, part of its effort to enter the competitive Gulf airline market. The 600,000 square meter (6.5 million square feet) passenger terminal complex was scheduled to be completed in 2009. The airport is part of a multibillion-dollar building boom in Doha ahead of the 2022 World Cup. Roads in Doha were blocked as overnight rain made many near impassable for commuters. Schools and malls closed as the rain even forced the US embassy in Qatar to shut down. The World Bank calculates that Qatar receives, on average, 74 millimeters of rain each year. The US embassy said that the weather had forced it to shut on Wednesday and the offices would not open again until next week. “Due to inclement weather, the US Embassy in #Qatar will be closed today,” it said on Twitter. The interior ministry pleaded for drivers to take care in the rainy conditions. Ashgal, the public works authority, denied rumors that the rain had caused structural problems at a major Doha intersection. — Agencies